Instituted in memory of Late R. ChinniKrishnan, the visionary behind India’s sachet revolution, the awards celebrate innovations that make quality products and solutions accessible to the common man. Since its inception in 2011, the initiative has built a strong legacy of identifying and supporting entrepreneurs who challenge convention and create meaningful impact across sectors.
This year’s edition sees the reintroduction of the ‘Great Ideas’ category, revived with an expanded scope to include student innovators and will recognise 10 outstanding ideas, a scale-up from earlier editions where a single winner was awarded, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to nurturing innovation at its earliest stages.
The awards feature two categories. Applications under the Innovation Category are open to startups and small-scale enterprises with an annual turnover not exceeding Rs 50 crore for FY 2024–25 / 2025–26. The Great Ideas Category is open to individuals and institutions across India with no turnover criteria
Applicants must be Indian citizens or have ideas originating from India.
Under the Innovation Category, three winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, a citation and a trophy each.
In the Great Ideas Category, 10 winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each.
“The ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards have always celebrated purposeful ideas that transform everyday lives. As we mark the 15th edition, we are bringing back the ‘Great Ideas’ category with a broader vision to recognise and encourage not just established innovators but also individuals and students at the ideation stage,” CK Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd., said in a statement.
“By expanding the number of winners, we hope to create a larger platform for promising ideas to be nurtured, mentored and scaled into impactful solutions for the future. With the right ecosystem and mentorship, these ideas can evolve into impactful, scalable solutions for the future, he added.
“The Chinnikrishnan Innovation Awards reflect MMA’s enduring commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. By broadening the scope and inclusivity of the awards, we aim to inspire emerging talent and provide a robust platform for ideas that can address real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully to society and economic progress,” Lakshminarayanan, President, MMA, said.
Over the years, the awards have recognised innovations across diverse sectors including biotechnology and healthcare, assistive technologies, environmental sustainability, clean-tech, AI-driven platforms, robotics and automation, affordable medical devices, smart sanitation, sustainable packaging, agri-tech, and digital technologies addressing real-world challenges, according to a statement.
Awardees in the innovation category will gain national recognition along with access to a comprehensive mentoring ecosystem facilitated by CavinKare and MMA, including guidance across marketing, finance, design, packaging, R&D, HR and intellectual property, as well as one-year access to industry experts and facilitation of business linkages with financial institutions, with no financial stake held by the organisers.
The selection process will involve a multi-stage evaluation by a distinguished jury comprising industry leaders, venture capitalists and academic experts, with shortlisted candidates invited for further interactions, including video presentations.
The nominations are invited by 22 June at www.ckinnovationawards.in or Call +91 9444700068 to register.